Conditions at Arrifana in May
May: Summer Preview and Morning Windows
May is when the north wind machine starts to settle in. The average swell drops to 1.6m (5ft), periods fall to 9.8s, and the wave rose becomes dominated by NW (39.7%) and NNW (23.9%) windswell. There is still a reliable W component (7.1%), but it is often too weak to make Arrifana fire without help. The wind is ideal only 33% of the time; NNW winds blow 34.9% of the time and NW an additional 15.7%, making most afternoons bumpy. Early morning, before the seabreeze builds, can still produce clean, rippable conditions. With water at 16.5C and air reaching 17.9C, it is comfortable, but you will be chasing windows rather than enjoying constant waves.
Average Spot conditions at Arrifana in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Arrifana during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Arrifana for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Arrifana for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Arrifana.